Feed mechanism



Ott. 28, 1930. R. L. wlLcox FEED MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24,

i929 2 sheets-sheet 1 Ill/11111111,

INVENTOR ar Lester Wzlca v Rich Oct. 28, 41930. l R. l.. wlLcox FEED MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 A ORNEY 1%' mvENToR lg' Ric/lard Leser-M'lcor Patented Oct. 28, 1930 U'NiTEnsfrAjrE-g RICHARD LESTER wILCoX, cir w rI'UiE'i-iuaURY,A CONNECTICUT', Ass'IGNoit YY'To THE WTEB- BURY FARBEL FoUNiinY AND i A CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT rEEniviECHANisM Y Application filed January 24,' 1929. Seria1'No.'334,703.r

f This invention relates to feedmechanism,

particularly-,of the type used'for. taking hopper or the like and'conduct-- distributionstation, havingl for to provide blanks from a ing them to a its object, among other things,

Va feed mechanism of this character that will take the maximum'number of article'sjfrom Y 'Y an indiscriminate mass of blanks, and ar- Y range them in propery alignmentrwith each otherin the minimumtime. n gTo these, and other ends, my invention yconsists in the feed mechanism, having cer-- i numerals 'of reference tain details of .construction and combinations .Y of parts, aswill be' hereinafter described and more particularly'pointed out inl the claims. Referring to the drawings, in which like indicate Vlike parts in the severalfigures:` 1 v i YFigure 1 is a side elevation of my improved mechanism associated with -a hopper device;

1 -Figure 2 isa transversey sectional view thereof, taken upon line 2 --2 of Figure Figure 3'is afragmentary plan view of they` chute mechanism; y i v f Figure 4 isa side elevation thereof; Y

V.Figure is an end view; c ,e Figure 6 is an enlarged cross `sectional Y 7 ,l view,taken upon line 6.-6 ofFigure4;

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view,

chute plates, `respectively designated 17 and f taken upon line Figure 4; ,Y .a

Figure 81s an' enlarged crosssectional view,

`taken upon line 8-,8 ofFigure 4; and

i F igure'9'is a fragmentary detail view showing the lowerV end of the chute rolls and. adjacent aparts.. Y: Y A In the dijawingsI haveillustrated a form of hopper mechanism that is adaptedfor ase sociation with my new and improved feed mechanism, wherein 10 indicates the hopper which is supported upon the standard 16,' and having an inclinedwall-v; 11 a troughl with an inclined bottom '12 leading thereto; 13 a shaftrotatable therein; 14 a rotorheadi fixed thereon and carrying" the lifterarms 15;

and 46 a cover forming a per. v y.

In the embodiment of my invention, Vas disclosed. herein, thereL are provided two closure for the hop- `supported 'invpart by the chute revolving `tegral with the sheave wheel MACHINE coMieNY, on WATNRBURY, CONNECTICUT, Y

plate and the latter `asgthe'oi'itside Aand i signed with lone portion atv other portion, whereby, whenthey arepositioned, the lower portion is at anangle found inl practice. to be desirable ,for this a bracket 44l connected' with the standard 16. Both Yplates vare' de' an .angle to theV type of f 1nechanism, which is usuallyaboutBO, while I the upperportion is ata-different angle',fde-` termined by experiment as' desirableat aboutk 209'. Both ofthese angles, of' course,l may be' varied, butitris preferable, *,howeverythat the angle near vthe upper cndshould be less than that attlie lower end. f

` Associated with thehopper mechanismis a clearance mechanism 19'which prevents all misaligned vblanks from passing thereby.

Any form ofclearance mechanism may be used Ywith' my invention andis preferably so mounted Vthat it'operatesat a lpoint adjacent .to tliatportionof the chute plates where the two angular portionsjoin.,f` LTheinner upper v`faces of the chute plates' 17 and 18 areprovidedwith recesses 20, in Y Vwhich are rotatablymountedy the chute rolls 21 and22, which are arranged yso that they lie parallel with each other and presentin parts, heretofore Aoccu-v pied by rigid corners ofthe` chute plates. These chute rolls are rotated by-a belt 23 in engagement with a sheave wheel 24 rotatable upcnfa stud25 fixedin the endf block 26 which is secured tothe ho adjacenthparts 'by bolts 2 l 24fisa gear128, thev teeth of which mesh into 34 on` the latter thatlp'rojects into ay recess 35 in the blockf26; Thus, as`the sheave wheel and the 'gears 28 and v29 rotate, the chute rolls also rotate inthe direction vindicated' by arrows in Figure 6. a

per mechanism or' Preferablyin'-,

those of a gear- 29 rotatable upon a stud 30 intheend block 26, and the teeth of both of these pinions mesh. respectively into the pinions 31 and 32 upon The lower ends of the chute rolls are reduced in diameter and project intoA and are journaled in a recess 36 in the iiller plate 37,

vwhich recess contains a button 38 between which andthe end ofthe chuterollis a ball 39, which takes 'the end thrust upon the chute roll and facilitates the motion thereof.

Each filler plate has a rounded shoulder 40 which forms aguidegtor the blanks after they leave the chute rolls, andas they enter the stationary portion of the chute. Fixed to each chute plate'and projecting over ,theVV recesses 20 therein are thelline'rs 41. These liners are so shaped and setat such an 'angle that the blanks which tall thereon are guided toward the chute rolls and their/inner ends terminate ata point so close to the periphery of the chute roll as to prevent ablank or articleheing carried therearound. The chute plates .are moved toward and away 'from each other so to accommodate blanks of difterent diameters and by any of the-common nieanswell kno-wn in the art. That end ot the' chute plates', however, adjacent to the t gears and pinions is adjusted by meanso'f the sleeves 42, which are' threaded'into the chute plate 18 and through which project the screws 43 which are'threaded intothe chute plate 17. As the ends of Vthe sleeves 42 engage the inner wall ci the chute' plate' 17, the open V space between the chute plates is' variable and e in their' adjusted positions the `plates are associated parts'.- j lifted from the hopper'in a weliknownvnisn-j then locked by means of the screws 43.

The movement of the plates toward and 2 away from each other does not atleet the op eration fot the gears and pinions at the up per end of lthe ,chutey as the axes ofI the gears 28 and 29 do not var v,V and in the extreme positions of the pinions B1v and B2 the teeth thereon' are always in mesh with those of the driving gears with which they are associated.

Hinged to the hopper, or other convenient part'isa guard 47, `having an inclined wall 48, `which projects downwardly and inwardly towardthe top of the chute plates, and

terminating adjacent tot-he rotor head, 'as shown in Figure 2. Thus, a blank-that mayV be pushed backwardly'jby a blow from the clearance mechanism will either strikel the K `baek end ofthe guard or the'hopper and fallback onto the chute, or,l if-it is deflected eitherto' one side or the other, it is correspondingly returnedby reason of the inclination 'of the walls 4&5 and 48.: Hence, practical-y lj," all blanks' that are engaged by the clearancernecha'ni'sin by reason of their misalig'nnient in the column-arereturned to the' chute mechanism without 'falling back into'V the liepperto he again lifted by therotor head and The blanks or articles arev Y ner and drop from therarms l5 thereon onto the inclined shoulder@ Yupon one'o' `the hop? per walls, and .thence slideever a 'liner ai. onto the chute rolls and assiie't'l Correct downwardly by'f-reason of "its platesunder the top plate 51 to the delivery point.

71V-By useA of the chute rolls, as herein dise4 closed, the angle of inclination of the chute plate' inside the hopper or inV front of the clearance mechanism is This isA advantageous, because the blanksare more readily handled from the rotor .head and are less liable to clog at the clearance wheel:` The blanks glide'orV slide far more' use of thefchute rollsfwhichalso facilitate their aligninent- The blanks donot become clogged or lodged in the chutefparticularly as the' direction of the rotation oft-lierolls is awayfrorn eachother, as indicated Figure. Y `l "f There 'are no stationary," parts yassociated with the' chute to permit the blanksto veither become sluggish or inactivein their Inoveinent, and thus theirfspeedoftravel is 'faciliJ tated, which also has a ten dency to rectiy the algnmentot the blanks.-

lVith the old typeot chute mechanism, the

it is carried This mechanism strips very 'much reduced.

. readily toward the clearance wheel with the chute plates extended into' thehopper the 'same angle as portion outside, 'so that the blanks, whether aligned or niisaligned on the chute, traveled quite rapidly toward the clearance mechanism, causingI the niisalign'ed blanks to clogandvjam at' that point'. Thus,

ies

excess laboriwas placed on `the clear'uace` mechanism,- fk'sonietirnes incre than ity could' conveniently take careci, .i'r'vith a resultant slowing up by the stream of blanks 'ati-tire delivery station.Vl l f I Y Practice-has demonstrated that with 'my'iin' provedtype oii'feedfmechanism lthe speed of the feed can be increased at least 50% der the old practice;

Within .the scopeot the appended claims therclfare minor changes and alterations that may be made witliinniyinvention, aside from those herein suggested, and I would therefore" have itunderstood that l do not'linlit myself to*` the exact construction li\. rei'iishownl and described. 'f

*Having described inyiv'ention, what I'I claim asnew and Patent, is

In mechanism of the character described, 'a' chute mechanism comprising 1n part chute plates, each of whichlisfprov desire to secure by Letters l andlcng blanks'can be fed at the samelsp'eed as shortL blanks, a result impossible 'ci attainment-un.

ded with@ rel cess; and a roll rotatable within said recess lto form a support 'for blanks positioned thereon and to facilitate movement thereof along the chute plates; e

2. In mechanism of the character described,

` Y the combination witha hopper.; of` a. chute as to guide articles onto the rolls and prevent `mechanism leadingtherefrom; comp'risingvin partchute plates, each of which is provided with a'recess; a roll rotatable within said recess to form a. support, for theblanks from" the hopper and to facilitate movement thereof along the chute plates; and liners fixed so the'same from clogging or passing there around.

3. In mechanism of the character described', the combination with a hopper; of a chute mechanism leading therefrom, comprising in part chute plates each of which is provided. with a recess;

f in the recess therein adjacent' to the hopper to receive the articles therefrom; and means having' inclined walls to direct the travelof an articleonto the chute mechanism if the same is above t-he top thereof, the angle of inclination of the walls causing any article brought into contact therewith to travel to-v position of the chute ward the chute plates and rotary members.

Y 4. In mechanism of the character described; chute mechanism, comprising in part chute plates; means for adjusting the relative plates toward and away from each` other; a movable member associated with each plate and in such relation to the movable member inthe other plate that the said movable members form a support for articles 1n the chute mechanism;

and gear means for positively actuating said movable members irrespective of the relation ofthe chute plates and comprising` companion gears associated with one of the the teeth of the pinion lassociated with one of the movable members meshing into the teeth of one of the first the teeth on the pinion of the other movable member meshing with the teeth of with chute` thereon that projects intothe recess, in theV Y K is rotatably those of the other movable member. 5. In chute mechanism, the combination plates, Vone plateY having a lug other platewher'eby the alignment of one plate relative to the other is maintainedin any of its adjusted positions; a movable l plates` being .pas

a rotary member associated Y with each of the chute plates and rotatable plates and a pinion associated with each of thevmovablemembers,

mentioned gears and said `chute rolls being provided with I' a `recess andv a roll rotatablein said recessjtolform asuppojrt for blanks positioned thereona'n'd to facilitate Vmovementthereof along the chute plates.' A

mechanismfof thev character de 'scribed; a chute mechamsm`, comprising-1n blanks positioned thereon and to lfacilitate movement thereof alongt'he chute plates and a liner on each chute 'plate'that' proj ects'over the said recess therein and terminates "adjacent tothexperiplierjy `of the roll.` j i ,"81 In' mechanism A1ofV the 'character 1described;ifa 'chute mechanism, comprising in part vchute'"platesspaced-relatively to each other, the inner'fup'per cornerof; each ofthel n platesbe'ing provided 'with "arecess; a roll Y rotatable' ifnsaid recess toforfm av support for chute plates jsp'aced relatively to each other, the-innerupper cornerV ofieachof'the plates 1eeing f provided ,f'withf 'ai 'recess a roll rotatable in said recesstoform-asupport for blanks Vposit'io'ned thereon fandfv ftoi facilitate movementthereof alongthe chute'plates; and a liner'on eachchute pla-te that vprojectsver the said recess vthereinand terminates adja#4 centito theperiphery 'ofthelrollfa'nd shaped andi set v'at such lan angle thatfbla'nks which fall thereon are guided toward the' 95 vIn n mechanism ,of -the "char'a'fcter'f de"-v scribed; -`achute mechanism" comprising in part chute plates Vspaced other, ythe innerupper corner of each of the plates being provided with a'recess; and a roll rotatable in said recess to form a sup-V port for blanks positionedV thereon and to facilitate movement thereof along the chute plates, said rolls being lso positioned relative to the inside faces of the chute plates that' the shank of a blank betweenthe rolls 'will the open space between the project vinto plates. y

` 10. In `mechanism scribed a chute mechanism, comprising in ypaIl chute platesfhaving pluralangles of inclination; a roll associated with each of the of the character dee relatively to eachk chute platesthat support and facilitate the y movement 'of blanks in the chute mechanism,

portion ofthe Vchute plates having the*y least `angle' relative to the horizontal; vand means having roundedfshoulders for guiding` the blanks from the lrolls of the chute mechanism. Y Y

ll. In mechanism of the character described; a chute mechanismcomprising in partchute' plates having plural angles of Sad chute rolls being connected with. that into the stationary part` p inclination; a roll associated with each of the .A

chutey plates that support and facilitate the movement of blanks in the chute mechanism, connected with that portion of thechute platesv having the least angle relative to the horizontal; and a filler plateconnected .with each chute plate and 'provided with a roundedshoulder adjacent lao to the ends of the saiclfr'olls to guide blanks from :the frolls.

` 12.In Lmeohanism part chute plates 4 having Apluralangles of inclination; a roll associatedwith each of the chute plates that support and facilitate the movement of yblanks in the chute mechanism,

said chute vrolls'heivng Vconnected withl that portion of the chute plates having th'eleast angle relative tothe horizontal; and a filler plate connected With each chute plate, the said rolls being jonrnaled at one endrin said filler plates. Y Y

13.V InV mechanismof the characteridescribed;- a chute mechanism, comprising-in partl chute plates g' means for ,adjusting 'the relative positionof the chute. plates toward anlawa'y frgvneachv other; a roll associated` i' 'l i Witheach/on such platesanfl in such, relation with each other las to ormfasuppo'rt `for articles inthe chute mechanism; gear means connectingthe rolls-whereby movement. may beimpartel thereto irrespective of. the relation-ofthachnte plates; anda-guard adja-` cent to thechnte-plates .but spaced from thev gears, to' limitthe movement `of an article proj ecteil;l over the chute mechanism;

In testnnony whereof7` -I have hereunto my Signature'- Y 'Riemen LESTER WILcoX. .Y

ed f

v of the tcharacterl de- 4 scribed; a chute mechan1sm,. compr1s1ng 1n y 

